A fishing vessel has ran aground and breaking up at Oamaru Harbour, spilling oil in one of the coast’s most sensitive environments.

Otago Regional Council staff trained in oil spill response are now at the scene after the fishing boat ran aground near the harbour entrance overnight.

The council says there has been large surf rolling in and strong winds with an incoming tide which is threatening to break up the beached vessel.

The council said emergency response equipment had been deployed to minimise the impact of any spilt fuel on the particularly sensitive environment.

Staff were liaising with the Department of Conservation and have informed Maritime New Zealand about the grounding.

NZ Herald